SUMMER & FALL 2012 - VOLUME 3 - Senior Tours Canada

TENTATIVE ITINERARY FOR BHUTANDAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DAY 8DEPARTURE. We depart for Delhi with a changeof planes in Brussels.DELHI. We arrive in Delhi overnight at a hotelnear the airport.PARO. We fly to Paro (Bhutan) and begin oursightseeing with a visit of Rinchen Pung Dzong(monastery), former headquarters of the NationalAssembly. It is perched on a hillside with twomonasteries and a central tower. The NationalMuseum is located above the Dzong in theancient circular watchtower displaying variousaspects of Bhutanese culture, including a greatcollection of Thangkhas (colourful religioushangings). This evening we enjoy a stroll alongParo’s main street.THIMPHU. We travel to Thimphu, the only capitalcity in the world without streetlights, relyinginstead on the elegant gestures of traffic police.En route we pass the Tamchog iron bridge builtby Thangtong Gyalpo who introduced the art ofbuilding suspension bridges with iron chains. Wepass the meeting of the rivers at Chuzom whereshrines have been built to ward off the evil spiritsthat the locals believe gather at such places.THIMPHU. We visit the ChangangkhaMonastery, which offers a bird’s eye view of thevalley and the magnificent Tashi Cho Dzong, theseat of both the government and the centralmonastic body. This afternoon we take a tour of ahospital where age old Buddhist techniques areused for healing. We’ll also learn about herbalremedies.THIMPHU. This morning we visit the School ofTraditional Arts and Crafts, and then the FolkHeritage Museum to learn about traditional life inBhutan. In the afternoon we visit the bustling andcolourful weekend market.PUNAKHA. Our first stop is Simtokha Dzong, theoldest Dzong in the country - perched on a hilloverlooking the valley. We also visit the largestBuddha statue in the world before climbing inelevation to Dochula Pass where on a clear daythere are great views of the Himalayas. Afterlunch at the Pass we descend to the PunakhaValley.PUNAKHA. Punakha was the old capital ofBhutan and its magnificent Dzong is situated onan island in the middle of the river. It is the site ofone of the country’s longest cantilevered bridgesand the winter residence of the central monasticbody. Later we see a traditional Bhutanesevillage and also the Chimi Lhakhang Monasterydedicated to Lama Kunley, known as the “DivineMadman” for his unorthodox ways of teachingBuddhism by singing, humour and outrageousbehaviour.DAY 9DAY 10DAY 11DAY 12DAY 13DAY 14DAY 15DAY 16DAY 17PHOBJIKHA / TRONGSA. We enjoy the scenicdrive to the Phobjikha Valley, spotting beautifulwaterfalls en route. This is fabled to be one of thelast mysterious hidden valleys and is home to theblack-necked crane. We continue to Trongsa.TRONGSA / BUMTHANG. Magnificent TrongsaDzong was once the entry point to CentralBhutan and was very important in Bhutan’spolitical history, as well as being an architecturalmarvel. The museum in the old watch towerdisplays exhibits on Bhutan’s royal family. Wethen drive to Bumthang, stopping en route to visita weaving centre unique to this area. Bumthangis known as Bhutan’s cultural heartland and hasmany monasteries and historic sites. Thisafternoon we visit Jakar Dzong, translated as“fortress of white bird”. Legend has it that whilethe monks were deciding on a building site a bigwhite bird rose into the air and settled on the hill.BUMTHANG. We first visit Tamshing GoembaMonastery, believed to have been built with thehelp of fairies. The temple has three thrones -one for each incarnation (body, mind and speech)of Pema Lingpa - the great Buddhist thinker andking. We then see the three temples of KurjeyLhakhang, revered by the Bhutanese as one oftheir most sacred sites. The spring located hereis believed to be blessed with curative properties.BUMTHANG. Today we see Mebartsho Lakewhere Pema Lingpa found buried treasure and issaid to have emerged from the depths of the lakewith a flame still intact to prove the validity of hisdiscovery. We also visit a local village.WANGDUE. We depart for Wangdue, stoppingfor lunch by the stupa at Chendibji.PARO. We return to the agricultural valley of Parowhere the rice fields make a pleasant backdropfor the traditional buildings. Before theconstruction of roads most of Bhutan's tradecame through Paro either from Tibet or from thesouth. This evening we drive to Drugyel Dzong,built to commemorate a 17th century Bhutanesevictory over Tibetan invaders.PARO. We pass through Chelela, one of thehighest passes in Bhutan, to tour the magnificentHaa Valley - a reminder of the Bhutan of yore withlovely rural houses and untouched country side.DELHI. We fly to Delhi and enjoy a tour of Newand Old Delhi including Jama Masjid mosque,Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated,Birla Temple, the Parliament Buildings and more.After dinner we transfer to the airport for our flighthome.HOME. Arrival back in Canada.57.